Aria didn’t know where he was going with his speech, but hearing him talk while she remained frozen in place, unable to look away, horrified her.
"I’ve been too soft," he said.
His voice wasn’t raised. It wasn’t angry. That made it so much worse. It was the same smooth, calm tone he always used—almost gentle. There was even a faint smile playing on his lips. Not the playful smirk he usually wore, but something far more dangerous.
And yet, it was clear—he was furious. The kind of cold, calculating fury that made Aria’s stomach twist. Still, more than anything, she wished she could speak, could scream, could move. But she felt the pressure coiling tight around her—shadows, she was sure. Shadows that Zyren commanded with effortless cruelty.
"My first thought when you walked in with this coat around you..." he went on, reaching forward with a flick of his fingers to jerk the coat open, exposing the short, rose-colored, skimpy outfit beneath, "...was to tear it off and have my way with you right here and now."
He said it like one might mention what they were having for dinner—casual, unconcerned, absolute.
"But after you sat down, I thought about it and decided... you needed a deeper lesson. One you won’t quickly forget." He reached back, pulling the coat over her again, wrapping it tight around her body almost as if to shield her from the cold.
Aria stared at him, eyes wide with terror as he leaned back into his seat, no longer speaking, his gaze shifting outside as though none of this meant anything.
It was a long while before he spoke again. She still couldn’t move—still couldn’t so much as glare the way she wanted to.
"I’m heading to Fuzza," he said finally, his voice low. "The realm of the Werewolves. You’re coming with me."
The words crashed into her like a wave, and she hadn’t even begun to process them before his tone hardened.
"I will release you," he said, pausing deliberately, each word sharper than the last, "but if you do anything to displease me... I will make you scream so much you won’t be able to speak for weeks."
The fear crawled up her spine like something alive, wrapping around her throat and stealing her breath.
Then, as if in answer to that fear, her neck unlocked, and she realized she could move her head. She heard him speak again, deeper this time.
"Nod if you understand."
And she did. Immediately. Not daring to hesitate.
The weight pressing on her chest threatened to snap her like a twig.
"You are also not to speak," he added, his gaze returning to the window.
Aria felt the rest of her body release from its frozen state—but she didn’t move. Not more than a few inches. She wouldn’t risk angering him again.
Terror rooted her in place. Zyren said nothing else, and the silence between them became heavier than anything he’d said. After that promise... after the threat... she didn’t just want to escape—she needed to. But she wasn’t stupid.
Whatever slim chance she might’ve had before, it was gone now. He was beside her, and there would be no getting away.
Tears welled in her eyes, hot and silent, and she looked away, turning her head toward the window just to hide them from him. She didn’t want him to see her cry. She couldn’t let him see.
But unlike Zyren, she saw nothing outside—only the road left behind, endless and gray. Even the trees blurred into the darkness, shapeless, indistinguishable.
The carriage ride dragged on, stretching longer than she wanted, until she began to wonder if they would ever arrive—when finally, the carriage slowed, then stopped.
Zyren stepped down, unsurprised, as if this moment had been planned all along. He turned and held out his hand for her.
Aria’s instinct was to ignore it.
But then she took it—because she knew better than to defy him again. Not when she didn’t even know where they were going or why.
Werewolves, she thought, stepping down and quickly pulling her hand away. She never doubted they existed—vampires were already proof enough that the world held far more than humans.
But why is he going to see them? She knew of the rivalry between the two races. It didn’t make sense. None of it did.
But even if she wanted to ask questions, she couldn’t. Not with the threat still ringing in her ears.
She followed him quietly, and it wasn’t long before she spotted horses—and several men. She barely had time to react before she was lifted onto one of the horses, Zyren mounting behind her. Not a single word of protest left her mouth. She wouldn’t dare.
His arm looped around her waist as the horse shifted beneath them. Aria was still adjusting to the feel of it when he leaned in, speaking close to her ear.
"Don’t scream," he said, just as the horses began to gallop.
She didn’t understand why he would warn her like that, but with the wind already rushing past her face, she couldn’t form a word in reply.
But the farther they rode, the darker it got—the deeper they plunged into the forest, the more she understood why he’d warned her.
This wasn’t just any forest.
This was the Dark Forest.
She could see nothing. The shadows were thick, swallowing everything. But her ears picked up the sounds—strange, hacking noises that sent dread straight to her core. Sounds no human should hear. Some of them she was certain had to be figments of her imagination—but others... others were far too real.
She was losing her mind—barely able to breathe—when suddenly a rush of wind slammed into her.
The next moment she was no longer on the horse.
Zyren was carrying her.
The wind roared around them, pressure doubling until she couldn’t make sense of what was happening. Her senses blurred. She clung to him because it was the only thing she could do.
And the noises—they were getting closer. Closer. Until she could almost feel something chasing them. Whatever it was, it was right there, just beside her cheek. Too close.
She thought they were going to die. Right here, in a place no one would ever find them.
But then—she felt Zyren’s chest vibrate as he spoke.
"We’re here," he announced.
Aria was still shaking as she opened her eyes. Her body trembled violently, but she managed to look around.
The shadows had thinned, and for the first time, she could see.
New figures had joined them—tall, muscular, broad-shouldered. Human-looking... yet not.
Not with those ears. Furry. Twitching.
Her breath caught in her throat, eyes wide as her gaze zeroed in on the one approaching them. He was even larger than the rest—his presence commanding, his stride slow and deliberate as he moved toward Zyren.
Aria struggled against Zyren’s hold, trying to pull herself free, desperate to stand on her own but his grip didn’t budge as he continued to hold her.